Boost to help unemployed locals become job ready

A BIG cash boost to the State Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) initiative will help 117 people in the Inala region to become job ready.

The revitalised SQW program provides training to people who are under-utilised or underemployed in the labour market.

This initiative is targeted to assist young people, mature-age job seekers, women re-entering the workforce, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Premier and Member for Inala Annastacia Palaszczuk said $900,000 in funding had been invested into her electorate to support SQW projects.

Some of the projects include:

Yourtown: $83,300 to assist disadvantaged young people from Pacific Islander backgrounds in Inala with work preparation training. Participants undertake training in Certificate III in Community Services, Customer Engagement or Warehousing Operations.

Marist Youth Care Limited: $135,000 to train and assist participants to gain new skills to enable them to work in the community care industry.

Inala Youth Care Community Inc: $15,400 to assist local disengaged and unemployed young people to gain general knowledge and skills for career planning and job preparation.

Ms Palaszczuk said her government was working with local organisations to support residents to develop the skills and experience they need to get into work or further education.

"The SQW initiative is helping members of our community to build careers and a brighter future for their families,” she said.

"This program has been a success right across the state, with figures showing it has assisted 11,137 Queenslanders.

"I'm delighted that 117 people have participated in SQW projects in the Inala electorate alone.

"Of the 58 people that have already finished a SQW program in our local area - 25 have gained employment, 13 have gone on to further training and two have returned to school.

"That's great news for the jobseekers and young people in our community.”

For further information on Skilling Queenslanders for Work, visit www.training. qld.gov.au/sqw or phone 1300369935.